Are fire pits a health hazard?

The question aldermen asked recently is whether the pits can become a nuisance and/or a health threat.

Ald. Terry Witkowski is backing a substitute ordinance that changes open burning regulations by increasing the minimum distance that open burning may occur from a flammable structure from 15 feet to 50 feet.

The proposed substitute ordinance would consider any citations for open burning to be health violations. And there is an exception for cooking fires.

Witkowski said last week that he had received complaints from residents that open fires often go late into the night. And in some cases, residents have complained about the excessive smoke coming their way.

David Sivyer, the city's forestry services manager, told alderman there were four fire pits within 80 feet of his Enderis Park home. Sivyer, who said he was speaking as a citizen and not as a city official, said he had asthma and would like to see changes in open burning regulations.

"I shouldn't have to live in a shuttered home 12 months of the year," Sivyer said.

Ald. Bob Bauman said he was opposed to Witkowski's proposal. He said if the ordinance changed to a 50-foot rule, it would shut down all open burning in his district. "I like the smell of burning wood," Bauman said.

The city's Health Department is staying neutral on the proposal, a Health Department official said.